The men’s soccer team could not capitalize on the enthusiasm and fan spirit of Code Blue day on Saturday as Colby fell to the Tufts University Jumbos by a score of 2-1.

After a promising win over Middlebury a week prior that seemed to portent big things for this year’s Mules, the Tufts defense proved too stout for the Colby attack. It took nearly all game for Colby to muster significant offense, only managing to score with 43 seconds remaining in the game.

Senior midfielder Matt Blumenthal put the Jumbos on the board, notching his first goal of the season in the 22nd minute on a penalty kick. Tufts’ second goal came as the whistle blew for the end of the first half, as Maxime Hoppenot eschewed a first touch and one-timed a pass from Jono Edelman past goalkeeper Ben Joslin ’12.

Colby head coach Mark Serdjenian said, “We were chasing the game but felt that keeping our first-half formation could get us back into it. Then we became a bit more daring after 15 minutes or so and produced some quality chances.”

Indeed, Colby was able to muster some offense at the end of the game, but it was too little too late. The Mules’ only goal came very late while pressing forward to try to salvage the game; Jonathan Sommer ’14 scored his first collegiate goal in the 90th minute. Joslin made four saves on the game, and Tufts’ keeper Alan Bernstein had five.

The following day proved more successful for Colby, however, as the men ran over the University of Maine at Farmington in a 3-0 romp. First-year forward Joe Stronach scored the first and last goals for the Mules. The first goal, assisted by junior Nick Aubin, put the Mules on the board in the 29th minute. Sophomore forward Nate Tolman scored Colby’s second goal about 30 minutes later, also on an assist from Aubin. Stronach scored the final goal in the 79th minute, this time on an assist from fellow first-year Andrew Woonton.

Peter Quayle ’15 and Josh Richards ’14 split time in goal but were untested as the Beavers just managed one shot and zero corner kicks. The offense put pressure on Farmington goalkeeper Derek Reilly with 17 shots and nine corner kicks.

After this weekend, the Mules move to 3-2 with upcoming games against the University of Southern Maine and New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) foe Trinity College.